ADVERTISEMENT: LOCAL COORDINATOR IN DNIPROPETROVSK OBLAST, SC (RAPID RESPONSE TO SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ISSUES OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE IN UKRAINE) Location : Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, UKRAINE  Application Deadline : 04-May-15 Type of Contract : Service Contract Post Level : SB-3 Languages Required :
Duration of Initial Contract : 12 months with possible extension

Background

Consequences of the armed conflict in the eastern Ukraine and annexation of Autonomous Republic of Crimea (ARC) in March 2014 forced more than a million people to flee from their hometown to the safer regions of Ukraine and neighboring countries.  As of 21 January 2015, UN OCHA reported that the Ministry of Social Policy has registered 921,640 internally displaced people (IDP) across the country and 600,000 people have fled to neighboring countries. The number of IDPs is increasing due to indiscriminate shelling and causing casualties among civilians in the conflict areas. Local authorities and people estimate that the actual numbers of IDPs are much higher than the registered one.

The armed conflict not only caused causalities and displacement of people but also destroyed major social and economic infrastructures such as roads, electricity and water supply systems, supply chains of goods, health services, residential buildings etc. The Government damage assessment team has estimated the reconstruction cost of those destroyed infrastructures is about UAH 6.6 bln (only in areas controlled by the government).

The IDPs are scattered all over the country with high concentration in the neighboring oblasts of Donbas region, and the Government controlled areas in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. Among the IDPs, highest numbers are women and children (women-35%, and children-34%), while men constitute about 20%, and elderly and disabled people are about 11%. The IDPs are living either with relatives/friends, or in rented houses or in collective centers.

Due to massive influx of IDPs, the existing local social and economic infrastructures in host oblasts are overburdened to meet the need of IDPs and host communities as well as the local governments lack the capacity to address IDPs’ social and economic problems. In addition, unemployment and lack of access to social services (such as healthcare, legal and psychological, etc) causes hardship to IDPs.

Taking this into consideration UNDP plans to implement the Project on Rapid Response to Social and Economic issues of Internally Displaced People in Ukraine, funded by the Government of Japan. The project areas include Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Poltava, Zaparozhia, Odesa, Kyiv region and the Government controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. The overall objective of the Project is to strengthen the coping mechanisms for improving livelihoods of the IDPs in their new locations and, where appropriate, to support reintegration into their home locations. The project has three key components to ensure the project activities are implemented efficiently and timely: (i) Component 1 aims at enhancing capacity of the government on planning, MANAGEMENT and coordination of the responses to IDP issues at national and sub-national levels; while (ii) Component 2 focuses in improving livelihoods of IDPs in relocated and home places; and (iii) Component 3 aims at promoting social cohesion, reconciliation, and integration/reintegration of IDPs in relocation and home places.

To ensure project activities in the Dnipropetrovsk oblast are effectively coordinated, implemented and managed, UNDP Ukraine invites applications from highly qualified and experienced Ukrainian professionals for the post of the Local Coordinator in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the UNDP Programme Manager and direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Local Coordinator will be responsible for coordination, planning and MANAGEMENT of project activities in the region. Specifically, s/he will perform the following key tasks in close coordination with the Project Specialists:

Facilitate enhancing capacity of the Governor Office and relevant regional departments on planning, MANAGEMENT and coordination of the response toIDP issues at the Oblast level. 

• Facilitate assessment of existing practices of coordination in addressing IDPissues at the national and sub-national levels;
• Facilitate organizing capacity development events on coordination for the government officials and non-government organizations at oblast level;
• Facilitate the establishing of stakeholder’s platforms and networks for regular interaction and coordination to address IDP issues at oblast level;
• Facilitate the provision of the appropriate technical and human resources to enhance the coordination capacity of the Governor Office at oblast level;
• Facilitate conducting needs assessment for capacity development of the regional authorities on planning and MANAGEMENT for improving the livelihoods of IDPs;
• Coordinate organization of seminars and trainings on effective planning and management of IDP issues for representatives of authorities at the oblast level;
• Facilitate Governor’s Office to develop a comprehensive strategies and programmes to address IDP issues in transparent, conflict-sensitive, and participatory manner at oblast level;
• Facilitate in strengthening capacity of the government staff members at oblast level to collect relevant data, analyze and use information on IDPs;
• Provide inputs in preparing monitoring reports on livelihoods of IDPs and share the reports with key stakeholders working with IDP issues in the oblast;
• Facilitate dissemination of information about the Government decisions, activities, programmes, and assistance to IDPs at oblast level;

Coordination and implementation of the project activities aimed at improving livelihoods of IDPs in relocated and home places:

• Facilitate identifying public works for “Cash-for-Work” / public works programme and coordinate implementing the “Cash-for- Work”/public works programme to generate INCOME for IDPs;
• Facilitate assessing the employment capacity of the local authorities and coordinate organization of comprehensive training for the staff members of Public Employment Services to conduct skills development training to IDPs;
• Coordinate organizing ‘Employment Fair’ for IDPs at oblast level;
• Facilitate organization of business forums to explore employment opportunities for IDPs;
• Facilitate organization of series of enterprise development trainings for IDPs, who are willing to run micro and small businesses;
• Facilitate identification of market opportunities for businesses among IDPs;
• Facilitate IDPs access to legal services for business registration procedures and rule and regulations (taxation, permits, sanitation and other norms and standard etc);
• Facilitate issuing grants to IDPs for starting micro and small enterprises, and monitor their implementation;
• Facilitate organization of seminars and trainings on case MANAGEMENT for representatives of regional authorities and non-government organizations at the oblast level;
• Facilitate Case MANAGERS to implement the case MANAGEMENT activities at oblast level;
• Support dissemination of information on availability of case management services to IDPs at oblast level;
• Facilitate developing capacity of staff members of relevant organizations to provide tailored and targeted psychological assistance to targeted population, including gender-based violence;
• Facilitate issuing grants to organizations for the provision of psychological services to IDPs and monitor their implementation;
• Facilitate issuing grants to organizations for the provision of legal services to IDPs and facilitate their implementation;

Promote social cohesion, reconciliation, and integration/reintegration in relocated or home places:

• Facilitate comprehensive information campaign on social integration, trust-building and reconciliation through involvement of mass media at oblast level;
• Facilitate organizing seminar/workshops on conflict-sensitive development for representatives of the local authorities at oblast level;
• Facilitate organization of workshops/seminars and trainings on tolerance and peacebuilding for formal and informal leaders of IDPs and host communities;
• Facilitate enhancing dialogue, trust building within communities and between local authorities and communities;
• Facilitate organization of community-based public events such as cultural and sports events to promote social cohesion and community reconciliation;
• Facilitate implementation of grants to support community initiatives that promote values of solidarity, cultural harmony and tolerance among community members;
• Provide technical advisory support to the Oblast Administration, government line agencies/departments located in the region and non-governmental organizations on social cohesion, trust building and reconciliation;

Support for efficient and effective delivery of the project activities: 

• Prepare regional/oblast level work plan and provide inputs to annual and quarterly work plans of the project;
• Contribute to the selection processes of Implementing Partners (IPs) and regular monitor the work (training, seminars/workshops, surveys, data collection, etc) of the IPs and facilitate them to deliver their work in the Oblast;
• Closely work with respective local authorities to ensure the project activities are implemented on timely and efficiently;
• Develop the regional coordination mechanism to ensure that local authorities, non-government, private sector and international development organizations are well informed about project activities and share experiences each other;
• Monitor and supervise field activities and provide technical support to ensure the Project objectives are met;
• Check and provide certification of satisfactory completion of works of consultants or IPs for payment of their completed works;
• Participate in relevant working group meetings and share information with partners and UNDP at oblast level;
• Facilitate collection, analysis and interpretation of data on IDP needs and problems in the region;
• Contribute to preparation and implementation of the Project communications strategy and plan;
• Ensure full compliance of project activities with UNDP rules, regulations and procedures;
• Facilitate project monitoring and evaluation;
• Provide input to sections of the project reports, including progress and annual reports, as well as ad-hoc technical reports;
• Assure that due security measures are observed during implementation of the project activities at oblast level;
• Carry on activities requested by the Project MANAGER and Programme Manager.

Measurable outputs of the work assignment:

• Full and appropriate implementation of the project activities in the region;
• Regional project results, experiences and lessons learned disseminated at the national and regional levels;
• Regional project activities reporting, quality monitoring and closure activities completed.

Performance Indicators for evaluation of results:

• Regional annual work plan is fully and timely implemented;
• Regional funds delivery reached 100%;
• Regional project activities are carried out in strict accordance with UNDP rules and procedures.

Competencies

• Ability to coordinate project activities for results, including the ability to translate strategic aims into achievable work plans; and prepare reports in a timely manner;
• Good interpersonal communication skills;
• Ability to handle politically sensitive issues and contacts with regional authorities and CSO’s community;
• Sound judgment and maturity to foster a positive work environment;
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team;
• Good facilitation skills;
• Familiarity with national legislation on IDPs, and familiar with political, economic and social environment in the region;
• Demonstrated strong coordination and facilitation skills;
• Excellent usage of computers and office software packages.

Required Skills and Experience

• University Degree in Economics, MANAGEMENT, Social Sciences, Social Development, Political Sciences, Public Administration, Conflict Resolution or other relevant areas; Post-graduate degree will be considered as an advantage;
• At least 3 years of experience of MANAGING or coordinating project activities in public or international organization in the relevant fields;
• At least 3 years of experience in the field of local social and economic development, governance, or peacebuilding;
• Experience of working with relevant stakeholders from the governmental and non-governmental institutions involved into IDPs and socio-economic issues at the sub-national level;
• Familiarity with UNDP rules and regulations will be considered as an advantage;
• Fluency in Ukrainian/Russian and good working level of English are required.

Application Instructions:

• Click on the “Apply now” button.
• Input your information in the appropriate Sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation. You can type in or paste your Resume into the last box.
• Upon completion of the first page, please hit “submit application” tab at the end of the page. On the next page, you will be asked to upload your Resume. Instead of uploading your Resume, please submit a fully completed and signed UNDPPersonal History Form (P-11). When completing the Form and, even though not currently requested, please include email addresses for your Supervisors.
• Without the completed and signed P11 your application will not be considered. The UNDP Personal History Form can be downloaded at link . Failure to disclose prior employment or making false representations on this form will be grounds for withdrawal of further consideration of his/her application or termination, where the appointment or contract has been issued.
• Only short-listed candidates will be contacted and please ensure that copies of your educational qualifications are available when contacted.

This is a locally recruited position and no expatriation benefits will apply.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS 04 MAY 2015

UNDP will use a transparent and competitive screening process, though will only contact those applicants in whom there is further interest. Applications may only be submitted for specific vacancy. Qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.